Wire NBA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The end of this season is beginning to feel a lot like the end of Paul Westphal coaching era in Sacramento.

CHICAGO - With seven double-doubles in his previous eight games, Carlos Boozer has helped keep the Bulls relevant with starters Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Richard Hamilton out.

It seemed to good to be true when the Milwaukee Bucks limited the New York Knicks to 36 points in the first half.

The Golden State Warriors are one victory closer to securing a playoff spot after overcoming an 18-point deficit to win on the road Friday night.

LOS ANGELES - For all the drama and suspense Kobe Bryant has provided and experienced in his Lakers career, this is the first time he has navigated the excitement of trying to secure a tenuous playoff berth late in the regular season.

LOS ANGELES - When the day comes that Kobe Bryant's jersey is retired by the Lakers, it will go on the Staples Center wall as No. 24, not No. 8.

SEATTLE - Spencer Haywood, who won a landmark Supreme Court case to enter the NBA and waged public-relations battles in retirement to preserve his legacy, will soon join the greatest fraternity in basketball.

James Harden racked up 33 points with seven rebounds and six assists as the Houston Rockets won their fourth game in a row with a 116-98 decision over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and had nine assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers continued their push for a playoff spot with an 86-84 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

James Harden had 33 points and the short-handed Houston Rockets edged closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 116-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

PHOENIX-The Golden State Warriors are one victory closer to securing a playoff spot after overcoming an 18-point deficit to win on the road Friday night.

Kobe Bryant had 24 points and nine assists, Pau Gasol added 19 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers stayed in the final playoff position in the Western Conference with an 86-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

MINNEAPOLIS - A Friday night crowd and the Timberwolves equipment manager came prepared for Rick Adelman's 1,000th NBA career coaching victory. Instead, Target Center patrons were reminded once again of their team's recent draft history in a 95-93 loss to Toronto.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Chris Bosh and the Heat's "expendables" - as Shane Battier playfully dubbed them - continued their playoffs-can't-get-here-soon-enough schedule stretch Friday, tormenting the Bobcats with a barrage of Mike Miller three-pointers and throttling Charlotte's woeful offense in the second half to draw closer to clinching the league's best record.

Klay Thompson had 25 points in the Golden State Warriors' 111-107 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Shawn Marion scored a team-high 25 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 117-108 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

Shawn Marion had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 117-108 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Stephen Curry scored 18 points and matched his career high with 15 assists, sinking two late free throws to seal Golden State's 111-107 victory over Phoenix on Friday, extending the Suns' losing streak to a season-worst eight games.

DETROIT-Despite a report that Detroit Pistons coach Lawrence Frank might be a candidate for the vacant Rutgers job, on Friday, Frank reaffirmed his satisfaction with his current position in Auburn Hills.

CHICAGO - A letdown was expected from a short-handed team that returned home from a grueling road victory the night before.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - No other way to describe it: Guards Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson have carried the Charlotte Bobcats through a 5-7 stretch.

ATLANTA - The Hawks are searching for momentum going into the playoffs but they are looking in all the wrong places.

Brian Flynn and Jochen Hecht scored 12 seconds apart late in the third period, lifting the Buffalo Sabres over the Ottawa Senators, 4-2. Luke Adam and Steve Ott also lit the lamp for the Sabres, who sit four points out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Ryan Miller made 35 saves for Buffalo, which has won two in a row since a four-game skid. Marc Methot and Eric Gryba scored for the Senators, who remained tied for fifth place the East with idle Toronto. Robin Lehner stopped 26-of-30 shots in defeat.

Gordon Hayward scored 23 and Paul Millsap posted 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz continued to push for a playoff spot with a 95-83 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Gordon Hayward scored 23 points after a 1-of-8 start and the Utah Jazz beat the New Orleans Hornets 95-83 on Friday night.

Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes each turned in double-doubles as the Philadelphia 76ers cruised past the Atlanta Hawks, 101-90, at Philips Arena.

It was too much Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Friday, and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved into a tie with San Antonio atop the Western Conference.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook refused to let anyone celebrate at their expense Friday night.

Rudy Gay poured in a game-high 26 points and DeMar DeRozan added 25 as the Toronto Raptors held on for a 95-93 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

Mike Miller scored a season-high 26 points on seven 3-pointers, and the injury-depleted Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats 89-79 on Friday night.

Nate Robinson scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead a late rally that propelled the Chicago Bulls to an 87-86 win over the Orlando Magic at the United Center.

With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade sitting once again, Mike Miller stepped up with a season-high 26 points and the Miami Heat took an 89-79 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.

Nate Robinson scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Luol Deng finished with 19 after a slow start, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 87-86 on Friday night.

Rudy Gay had 26 points and five rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors to a rare road victory in the West 95-93 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

The portion of the Miami Heat roster that was ambulatory didn't exactly give LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen prime viewing fare on Friday night.

Tim Hardaway said he got the news Wednesday, that he had fallen short in the final vote for 2013 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was disappointed, but hardly crushed.

Tristan Thompson had career highs with 29 points and 17 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended a 10-game losing streak with a 97-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Carmelo Anthony gave fans his own reason to celebrate 40.

Carmelo Anthony recorded his third straight game of 40 or more points, and the New York Knicks earned their 11th consecutive victory by putting forth a huge second half to register a 101-83 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.

Tristan Thompson posted career-highs of 29 points and 17 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a 10-game losing streak with a 97-91 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

Playing with an urgency that was absent a few days ago in a loss at Charlotte, the Philadelphia 76ers responded with a balanced effort Friday in a 101-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

Evan Turner had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers opened with their highest-scoring quarter of the season and beat the Atlanta Hawks 101-90 on Friday night.

Cliff Lee tossed eight scoreless innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves, 2-0, to avoid a three-game sweep.

Miami Heat star LeBron James picked up his fifth consecutive Eastern Conference Player of the Month award on Friday, while the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant took home Western Conference honors for games played in March.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard received his fifth consecutive Western Conference Rookie of the Month award, while Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas earned the honor in the Eastern Conference for March.

Ersan Ilyasova is on a tear for the last six games.

The Denver Nuggets will be without versatile forward Danilo Gallinari for the rest of the season after tests Friday showed he tore his left ACL against Dallas the previous night.

Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will remain out of the team's lineup for Friday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats, with guard Ray Allen to join the duo on the sidelines.

The Utah Jazz were knocked to the canvas their last time out and will try to get back into the postseason hunt Friday versus the New Orleans Hornets.

The Golden State Warriors' playoff magic number is down to three and they will try to inch closer to the postseason Friday night when they visit the Phoenix Suns.

The Memphis Grizzlies have locked up their playoff spot, but they will face a hungry Los Angeles Lakers team Friday night at the Staples Center.

The Boston Celtics finally clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will try to improve their standing when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The New York Knicks will take their 10-game winning streak into action on Friday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden.

The Atlanta Hawks suffered a setback last time out, but will try to get back on track Friday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Toronto Raptors will try to continue their recent dominance of the Minnesota Timberwolves when the two teams square off Friday at Target Center.

The Dallas Mavericks' playoff chances are dwindling as the team has dropped two in a row, but hopes to get back on track Friday night when they visit the Sacramento Kings.

The Houston Rockets have won three in a row, but still haven't clinched a playoff berth. They will try to inch closer to the postseason Friday night when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers.

The chances of making the Central Division race interesting are slim for the playoff-bound Chicago Bulls, but they can still improve their status in the East.

It's understandable Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wants his players rested and ready for the playoffs and may not have his top contributors again Friday in a matchup with the Charlotte Bobcats.

It's unlikely the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers will meet in the NBA Finals, but stranger things have occurred.

It was another wild night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, another overtime thriller.

Late Tuesday in Washington, in frustrated fashion, Taj Gibson said "that's what happens when you rush back to try to help your team win" after he reinjured his left knee.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.-Coach Mike D'Antoni said he did not spend his Wednesday evening watching Denver defeat Utah, a result that left the Utah Jazz one-half game behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings.

Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a knee injury in Thursday's game against Dallas.

When NBA commissioner David Stern said Wednesday that a decision on the fate of the Sacramento Kings might take longer than expected, it raised the obvious question: Which city does a delay favor?

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Golden State Warriors head to Phoenix on Friday feeling as if they're reaching their peak after winning four of five games on the recent homestand and six of their past eight.

With 999 victories down in his career and another to go, Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has experienced enough this season to know nothing in this world is guaranteed.

Russell Westbrook scored a game-high 27 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists, as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the San Antonio Spurs, 100-88, in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference on Thursday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Russell Westbrook scored 27 points, Kevin Durant had 25 and the Oklahoma City Thunder seized control of the race for home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs by beating the San Antonio Spurs 100-88 on Thursday night.

Thursday night is why anybody thinking the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls will be an early playoff exit might want to reconsider.

LOS ANGELES-The evolution of Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is ongoing - and whatever the final result is, the responsibility is in his hands.

Nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton, who played 13 seasons for the Sonics, will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Andre Iguodala made the game-winning layup with 2.8 seconds remaining and Corey Brewer blocked Anthony Morrow's potential game-winning trey to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 95-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Corey Brewer scored 23 points and got a hand on Anthony Morrow's last-second shot to preserve the Denver Nuggets' 19th straight home win, 95-94 over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

LOS ANGELES-The Los Angeles Lakers hadn't played in days but gained some ground on Utah. If only the rest of their season had been this easy.

Nate Robinson netted the go-ahead bucket with 22.7 seconds remaining to lift the Chicago Bulls to a 92-90 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Carlos Boozer had 29 points and 18 rebounds, Nate Robinson made the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets 92-90 on Thursday night.

As questions about his job security rise, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said he can't evaluate the job he has done yet because he doesn't have all the pieces. He refuses to publicly defend himself, so Tristan Thompson chose Thursday to do it for him.

Losing the regular-season series has never been an issue for the Miami Heat.

Ray Allen had no idea the severity of the injury.

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger underwent successful surgery on his left knee Thursday.

In the NFL, it's called "Black Monday."

The Miami Heat might be missing four key parts of the rotation when they visit the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night.

While Miami Heat star Chris Bosh was out celebrating his birthday at a Morocco-themed party complete with live camels, police said Thursday that thieves made off with about $340,000 in jewelry and cash from the player's nearby home.

Thursday night's battle between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will go a long way in establishing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The Dallas Mavericks are still battling to get into the playoffs in the Western Conference, but they have a tall order in front of them Thursday night when they visit the Denver Nuggets.

The Brooklyn Nets finally return to the Barclays Center Thursday night after an eight-game road trip and face a huge Eastern Conference clash with the Chicago Bulls.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.-For the future of the Sacramento Kings' franchise, the biggest event of the day wasn't Wednesday's game at Sleep Train Arena.

Thursday night will tell a lot.

OAKLAND, Calif.- The Golden State Warriors found themselves in another uneasy position against the New Orleans Hornets. They led by just four points entering the fourth quarter, evoking fears of another letdown.

LOS ANGELES-For one night at least, the Los Angeles Clippers finally were able to smile and enjoy playing a basketball game.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - For the future of the Kings' franchise, the biggest event of the day wasn't Wednesday's game at Sleep Train Arena.

After trading away their primary goal scorer from the previous three seasons, the New York Rangers put up their highest offensive output of the year with plenty of the help from a few of his replacements. Ryane Clowe scored two goals and assisted on another in a dazzling Rangers debut, while Derick Brassard delivered a four-point night just hours after being acquired by the club to help New York register a 6-1 rout of the suddenly slumping Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Brassard, one of three players who came over from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for three-time 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik during Wednesday's trade deadline, tallied once and recorded three assists in New York's first six-goal effort of the season. Defenseman John Moore, also part of the Gaborik deal, lit the lamp as well in his first outing as a Ranger. Brian Boyle also racked up a goal and three helpers for New York, which was coming off another strong performance in Monday's 4-2 home victory over Winnipeg, while Henrik Lundqvist turned back 26-of-27 shots.

DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 12 rebounds in the Los Angeles Clippers' 126-101 rout of the Phoenix Suns.

David Lee posted a double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors pulled away for a crucial, 98-88, win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night at ORACLE Arena.

David Lee had 23 points and 16 rebounds, Stephen Curry added 20 points and nine assists, and the Golden State Warriors shook off a slow start to ease past the New Orleans Hornets 98-88 on Wednesday night.

The Clippers got their franchise-record 50th victory in their fourth try. It didn't come without some fireworks that had nothing to do with celebrating.

James Harden had 21 points in his return to the Houston lineup, and the Rockets continued their push to gain a playoff spot with a 112-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Chandler Parsons scored 29 points and James Harden added 21 to lead the Houston Rockets to a 112-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Mike Conley scored 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies set a franchise record for wins in a season with a 94-76 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.